ACTIVITY 2 – ABORIGINAL LEGENDS

A number of Aboriginal legends describe the creation of the world. I’m fascinated by the way Native peoples, like others throughout the world, describe themselves at the dawn of time and humanity. All major civilizations have sought to discover their origins. How was the cosmos formed? How did humans appear on Earth? Who created us? These are the questions underlying several creation myths and legends.

Here, you can discover some of those myths and legends—for instance, how the Haida explain the creation of their people. You’ll see that the raven plays a very important role in this legend. The raven is a crucial character for West Coast First Nations. He is a highly intelligent and much admired bird.

In two other legends, you’ll see how the Blackfoot and Huron-Wendat describe the creation of the world.

Aboriginal peoples also have many legends explaining the origin of the world and of their people. Here are just three of them: the legend of the creation of the Haida people; the creation of the world according to the Blackfoot; and the creation of the world according to the Huron-Wendat.

Legend of the creation of the Haida people
This is how the Haida, who live on the Pacific coast of southwest Alaska and Canada, explain their origins.

It happened a very long time ago, at a time when the Earth, our mother, was a true paradise. The plants were luxuriant and the animals in perfect health. Both lived in complete harmony. There were no fights or struggles to survive. At that time, our father, the Great Raven, was returning from a long journey. He wearily glided in the starry sky, looking for a place to rest. Our sister, the moon, lit up the sand on the beach with a silvery glow. Attracted by the bright reflection, the Raven landed on the shore at the exact spot where he’d seen the ray of light. He was about to fall asleep, when he felt something moving under his feet.

Intrigued, he dug into the soil with his beak, exposing the large clamshell on which he’d landed. But that wasn’t the end of it. The large shell was quivering and making sounds the Raven had never heard before. With his beak, he tried to separate the two halves. He finally pried the shell open and out came the first humans, our ancestors.

An illustration of the Great Raven, dating back to 1950
Frédéric has long been fascinated by legends. In 1950, following his trip to Western Canada, he illustrated one of the Great Raven legends. Here you can see Raven stealing the sun, which was hidden in a chest.

These illustrations date back to 1949 and 1950.

In 1949, Frédéric and his wife Ghylaine travelled across Canada by train for their honeymoon. They visited several communities in Western Canada and on the Pacific Coast. During their two-month stay, Frédéric did many drawings and made extensive notes. He wanted to share this treasure with others. But, unable to find a publisher, he had to abandon the project.

Aboriginal Storyteller Holding a Pipe.

The Legend of At-Tu

The Legend of At-Tu

The Legend of Am'Alah
Am'Alah fighting the East Wind.

The Legend of Am'Alah
Am'Alah tearing down a cedar at the tribe's festival.

The creation of the world, according to Blackfoot legend

Issko’tsika- Early Days
Blackfoot legend

The Siksika refer to themselves as Niitsitapi or “the Real People.” This is because they are equal partners in the universe with all the other Beings. Many stories and legends have been passed down through generations about Creation and the early days.

Long ago the Creator (Apisstotoki) made the earth and all the different things in it. He told the earth (Ksahkomitapi) that she would be the mother of all that he had created and all his creation would live off her. The Sun (Natosi) was created and he was told that he would be the one to give light and warmth to everything. The Creator told Natosi’s wife, the Moon (Kokimmikisoom) that, along with all their children (Kakatosiiks) in the sky, they would be the ones to give light at night.

After Creator had finished everything, he called all his creation to name them and give them counsel. He told then that they must never forget their heritage, and remember that they came from the Above People (Spomi'tapiiks).

He told the animals that some of them would live below the earth, they would be called Stahtsitapiiks. He called those that would live in the water Soyitapiiks.

However when the Creator came to the dog, he was stumped as to what to do with him so he was left to himself and he freely romped all over the place. Somehow he later ended up in the moon. Still today we often see his brothers the wolf, the coyote and the other dogs crying or howling for him to come home.

Why don’t you write your own animal legend or illustrate a legend and send it to us? We’d be happy to post it online in the Art Gallery section. You can also do some research on legends and share your discoveries with your classmates.

WRITING EXERCISE: Write your own legend, fable or tale.
Put your creative talent to work by writing your own legend or tale. You can also adapt a legend or tale, just like Frédéric Back did for his film L’ours et la loutre, which is based on a story by Rudyard Kipling.

DRAWING EXERCISE: Illustrate a legend, fable or tale.
You could also find an Aboriginal legend you like and illustrate it. If you want, you can make a comic strip or storyboard (as if you were making a film!).

RESEARCH EXERCISE: Do research on a legend (in class).
Do research on a legend of your choice. Which people wrote it? During which era? What inspired the legend? What does it describe? What is the moral of the story? Share your discoveries with your classmates and teacher.